Governor Josh Shapiro has left the seat empty rather than reappointing a member after reported ‘inappropriate’ lines of questioning.
John Williams, a child psychiatrist who has served on the state’s Board of Pardons since 2013, has not been reappointed by Governor Josh Shapiro at the end of his expiring term due to reported ‘inappropriate’ lines of questioning.
Williams was first appointed by former Governor Tom Corbett. He was reappointed in 2019 by former Governor Tom Wolf, and that six-year term expired in November.
Governor Shapiro has not reappointed Williams, who has been the subject of contention on the five-member board.
A spokesperson for Governor Shapiro said that the governor is working with state Senate leadership to “restore the board to its full complement.” The governor’s office would not confirm whether Shapiro plans to re-nominate Williams.
“No final decision regarding a nominee has been made at this time,” said spokesperson Kayla Anderson.
The Board of Pardons is comprised of two elected officials and three political appointees. The appointees include a corrections expert, a medical doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist, and a victim advocate.
Earlier in the year, a coalition of pro-clemency groups organized the Commutation Now campaign to pressure Governor Shapiro to replace Williams. He had a history of voting against commutations and pardons.
A report released in June by the coalition criticized Williams for asking “inappropriate questions reflecting ‘lurid curiosity’” on several occasions.
In September of 2024, Williams asked a victim to give increasingly specific details about the sexual abuse he endured as a child. Williams pushed for details when he believed the man was not being specific enough. Only after the line of questioning did Williams acknowledge the victim’s discomfort.
In 2021, a viewer sent a letter to then-Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman with similar complaints about Williams. The letter expressed concern that “Williams questioned a pardon applicant about which sex positions he used during the commission of a decades-old sexual offense.”
The letter also alleges that Williams then asked the applicant’s wife about her sex life with the applicant, including which sex positions they used.
Commutations Now hand-delivered their report to legislative leaders, including the state Senate Republicans who will be charged with confirming Shapiro’s new appointee.
A nomination from Governor Shapiro will have to undergo two committee votes before going before the full state Senate, according to a spokesperson for state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman.
Before a nomination is made by Governor Shapiro, the board will be able to function with only four members, according to quorum rules.
